1980-1981: League Cup 4th Round match at Liverpool motivates 13,000 Pompey fans to Anfield. Lose but finish season 6th in Div. 3.
1981-1982: Burrows departs. Bobby Campbell takes over.
1982-1983: James William Dickinson dies aged 57. In 764 appearances for Pompey and 48 for England, he never received a booking, leading to the nickname "Gentleman Jim". He served the club as PR officer, club secretary and manager, and was awarded the MBE in 1964. Today his face can be seen constructed out of seats in the Fratton End. On the pitch, with new signings Alan Biley and Neil Webb, the club win promotion to Division Two.
1983-1984: Mark Hateley joins PFC. Alan Ball moves from youth team coach to manager, replacing Bobby Campbell.
1984-1985: After 22 goals in 38 games, including a goal for England away at Brazil, Hateley moves to AC Milan for £915,000. Meanwhile, the club narrowly miss promotion to the 1st division, with Man City pipping them on goal difference.
1985-1986: Another near miss attempt to reach the top division, as Pompey fall short by three points.
1986-1987: At last PFC WIN PROMOTION to the First Division. 14 successive home wins makes it reality after 27 years.
1987-1988: John Deacon's supreme effort to provide the financial support to establish PFC falls short of the necessary, and Pompey find themselves relegated at the first time of asking. To this day, many fans point the finger at the sale of Mick Kennedy as a huge factor in relegation. In a season of few high points, beating Southampton at The Dell on January 3rd 1988 became such a legendary day that a fanzine was named after the event.
1988-1989: A new Chairman. Jim Gregory buys Club from John Deacon. At the end of the season Alan Ball leaves.
1989-1990: Frank Burrows returns as John Gregory's deputy. However, due to lack of success on the field, Burrows took over.